Debris control system

A debris control system for a beam drilling apparatus having a main chamber including a support plate having a drilling area, said system comprising:

• an isolation assembly to isolate drilling-generated debris within the region surrounding said drilling area;
• said isolation assembly including a selectively movable curtain member, and a curtain opening/closing member,
• said opening/closing member selectively moving said curtain member between an open position and a closed position;
• said curtain member defining an isolation enclosure when in said closed position which surrounds said drilling area;
• and,
• configured in said open position to allow access to said support plate for placement and removal of a work piece in said drilling area.

A debris control system for a beam drilling apparatus having a moveable support plate having an isolation chamber encompassing a drilling area and a calibration area, and wherein said calibration area includes a calibration device alignable with the beam of the apparatus, said system comprising:

• a calibration-area shielding assembly which shields said calibration area of such apparatus from drilling-generated debris and an isolation assembly which isolates drilling-generated debris within such drilling area;
• said calibration-area shielding assembly comprising a moveable cover, and a reaction member;
• said cover being coupled to said support plate in such a manner that it is movable between an open position in which said calibration device is uncovered and a closed position in which said calibration device is covered;
• said cover being normally biased into said closed position;
• said reaction member being positioned to cause said debris cover to move to said open position when such calibration area is in a certain orientation with respect to said beam;
• said isolation assembly including a bellow curtain and a bellow opening/closing member;
• said opening/closing member being arranged to selectively move said bellow curtain between an open position and a closed position;
• said bellow curtain defining an enclosure when in said closed position which surrounds said drilling area and an open position to allow placement and removal of a work piece on said support plate in said drilling area.

A debris control system for a beam drilling apparatus, said system comprising:

• a calibration-area shielding assembly which shields a calibration area no a movable support member of such apparatus from drilling-generated debris and wherein said calibration area includes a calibration device alignable with the beam of the apparatus;
• said calibration-area shielding assembly comprising a movable cover which is coupled to said shielding assembly in such a manner that it is movable between an open position in which said calibration device is uncovered and a closed position in which said calibration device is covered;
• said cover being normally biased into said closed position;
• said calibration-area shielding assembly further comprising means for causing said cover to move to said open position when such calibration area is in a given orientation with respect to the beam.